As some of you may know, April is Camp NaNoWriMo so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to force myself to start writing my novel about Enheduanna. Because of the intensity of writing so much throughout the week, it has left me with no mental energy to add to my blog. After NaNoWriMo is over, I will resume writing at my own pace and can go back to blogging again. With that said, here is a peek at a portion of Chapter Two of my WIP, Through the Gate of Wonder!
The two sweaty lovers rolled apart atop the orange coverlet that adorned the bed. They were in her quarters, the Gipar of the Entu, both panting and momentarily sated. Man and woman had come together to celebrate the pleasures of the flesh, reveling in the scent of their love surrounding them. Enheduanna smiled and looked up at Ubarum with an affectionate glow that warmed her golden eyes. “I must send you to Akkad tomorrow, My Sweet,” she said sadly. “I need you to present the king with the list of resources he needs to provide for the festival.”
Ubarum rolled to his side, propping himself up on his elbow so he could take in the full effect of his lover’s nude and sweaty body. He ran his finger along her sweaty sternum, leaving a subtle trail between her breasts upon her copper skin. “Must you soil this moment with talk of duty?” he asked, his baritone voice rumbling with playful amusement.
“Our duty follows us everywhere,” she answered, closing her eyes and shuddering slightly at his touch, “even into the lovers’ bed. You will finish with my brother quickly and return right away?” Enheduanna met his gaze with a hopeful smile, though she knew how her brother enjoyed keeping his visitors close to him for a few days so that he might regale them with stories of his victories over the would be usurpers.
“You know Manishtushu better than that, my dear. He has only told me of his campaign to the Steppes twice before so he will need to tell the story thrice more times before he is happy.” Ubarum laughed fondly before leaning down to nuzzle her neck with his sweaty face, his voice muffled when he spoke again, “I will endeavor to return as quickly as possible so to come back to this beautiful woman who has enchanted me so thoroughly.”
Enheduanna smiled and ran her fingers through his hair, arching her body closer to him as the vibrations of his voice against her skin made her stomach flutter and her body tingle. “You are not the only one who has fallen under an enchantment. I cannot seem to get enough of you inside of me.” She ran her tongue along his shoulder, tasting the salt of his skin and reveling in it.
“Is that so?” Ubarum asked, lifting his head from her neck. “Then perhaps I did not do my work well enough the first time to leave you unsatisfied. I must work harder next time.” He slid his hand behind her neck as he leaned over her, pressing his lips to hers in a soft, passionate kiss. Even as his tongue tangled with hers, he shifted his weight over her body and gently urged her legs apart with his knee. This woman was truly intoxicating and he knew he would never be able to get enough of her, even if he lived through ten lifetimes. With one solid thrust of his hips, he joined their bodies together again, ready to take on the role of Demuzi on his wedding night to Inanna, and claim his woman over and again until they both collapsed with exhaustion.
The dream woke Enheduanna with a soft gasp, followed by a low moan. She could briefly feel the familiar ache between her legs from being taken so passionately by her lover and former scribe, Ubarum. For a moment, she almost believed him to be laying beside her, breathing deeply and steadily as he traversed the realm of dreams. The moment was fleeting, however, and the hard truth of his death washed over her with the same intensity as when she first learned of his murder. In this quiet time before dawn, she allowed herself to feel the grief and cry with the sadness of it. She had never loved so fiercely before and truly believed Ubarum to be a gift from Inanna, the Lady of the Largest Heart, for a life spent in eternal dedication and servitude. That he was ripped from her arms left an empty space in her heart and an anger to her goddess for giving her a taste of paradise, only to take it all away in a single breath.
“Why must you make me suffer?” Enheduanna whispered into the silence, her voice thick with grief, “why must you take him away from me?” She already knew the answer; she knew that she had grown too comfortable and was starting to neglect her duties in preference to spending more time with Ubarum. It was a harsh lesson, but one that was needed. Inanna would never let her neglect her people so the punishment ensured it would never happen again.
Our Modern History 
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